Pallet construction



Feb. 2l, 1939. c. L. CLARK' 2,148,150

PALLET coNsTRUCT'oN Filed Feb. 25, 195s 2 sheetsheey/ 1 F150/fw l/gj /l kl Feb. 21, 1939. c. L. CLARK 2,148,150

PALLET CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheetv 2 fly. 1./

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13a, T/a 5i' 19a Jgd' la 21d l ggf/A A 5 o 54 f4 5l m 50111 56 rr zal'v fygzb f5.5 54/ ala f5 Patented Feb. 21, 1939 A i UNITED STATES PATENT yoFFlci-z rALLE'r CONSTRUCTION I Carl L. Clark, Warren, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Powell Pressed Steel Company, Hubbard, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 23, 1938, Serial'No. 192,080 Claims. (Cl. 248-120) The invention relates to material handling platforms generally known as pallets, which are used in conjunction with hand or power operated fork lift trucks, for storing, handling and trans- 5 porting materials either in boxes, bags, barrels or crates, or baled, bundled or coiled, or in loose or sheet form.

More particularly, the invention relates to pallet construction having novel metal side members adapted for use either with metal or wooden top and bottom deck members. f

'I'he greater proportion of pallets which have been and'now are in common use are constructed entirely or substantially entirely of wood. Such 5 pallets have sharp or rough edges and corners which constantly cause injuries to Workmen in handling, and those wooden pallets are necessarily relatively thick and heavy in order to provide the required compression strength for supporting heavy compression loads, as well as lateral shockw loads, and are therefore diflicult and awkward to handle.

Moreover, such Wooden pallets deteriorate very rapidly due to wear, warpage and breakage, thereby requiring not only frequent repairs and large maintenance expense, but also presenting a constant hazard of injury to workmen from splinters and rough corners and edges.

Accordingly, the objects of the present invention include the provision of a relatively light weight and strong pallet construction which is easily handled, and which is adapted to be conveniently lifted by fork lift trucks, or by means of sling chains and the like, where traveling 5 cranes are available.

Other objects include the provision of an extremely durable pallet construction `which requires a minimum of maintenance expense and repairs. 4 Another object is to provide an improved pallet which minimizes or substantially prevents injury to workmen due to sharp corners and splinters. f A further object is to provide an improved pallet having novel metal side members adapted for use with metal or wooden top and bottom deck members. v

A still further object is to provide an improved pallet construction having integral metal side members provided with flange portions for prol 5g metal side members provided with side binding portions, and associated with end binding memcompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention may be expressed in general terms as including top and bottom wood or metal deck members, integral recessed metal side members having abutting or binding portions for tting the ends of the deck members, and said side members being adapted for cooperating with end binding members for the edges of the deck members at the ends ofthe pallet.

In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, preferred embodiments of the presentv improvements are shown by Way of example, without limiting the scope of the invention to the embodiments shown, it being understood that various modifications in detalls of construction and arrangement are to be comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring ,to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of pallet constructed according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2, showing the construction of one form of deck members;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 3 embodying the same form similar to Fig. 6 showing modified forms of cor- .wooden slat deck members;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view as on line I2-l2 of Fig. 11: Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a form oi' pallet having metal edge members with curved corners at the ends of the pallet:

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional' view taken on line Il-Il of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view a'on line IB-IB of Fig. 14.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring ilrst to Figs. l to 8 inclusive, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a preferred embodiment of the present improvements including longitudinally extending laterally spaced side members IB and laterally or transversely extending top and bottom deck members I1. 'Ihe side members I6 are preferably exteriorly recessed with respect to the pallet, that is, they are channel-shaped with the top and bottom legs I8 of the channels directed outwardly.

A longitudinally extending channel I9 is provided between the side members I6 and preferably spaced centrally thereof. 'I'he top and bottom deck members II in this embodiment are in the form of sheet metal substantially U-shaped slats, as best shown in Fig. 3, and are'supported on the top and bottom legs I8 of the side members ISand of the centralV channel I9. Y

The side members I6 are provided with integral angular top and bottom flange portions extending vertically upward and downward of the pallet and abutting the side edges ofthe deck members I'I, and the flange portions 20 have inturned portions 2| overlapping the side edges or extremities of the slats II. Thus, each side member I6 includes an outwardly open channel and integral top and bottom inwardly open channels for receiving the extremities of the top and bottom deck members.

The extremities of the deck members may be welded or otherwise secured to both the legs I8 and the overlapping flange portions 2i if desired, and the overlapping portions 2| provide means for binding the deck members so as to constitute an extremely rigid and durable pallet construction.

The deck members I'I' at the ends of the pallet are preferably provided with inturned flange portions 22 resting on the legs I8 of the side members and on the legs of the central channel I9, so as to eliminate sharp edges which might cause injury to the workmen. The side members I6 being turned inwardly to overlap the deck members I1, also do not present any sharp edges. Moreover, the exteriorly recessed shape or configuration of the side members I6 provides for ease of handling by workmen and permits the use of sling chains for lifting loaded pallets where traveling cranes are available.

'I'he recessed channel side members together with their overlapping flange portions 2i provide a pallet construction having greatly increased strength and rigidity, so that a relatively light gauge material may be used.

With this all metal construction, the overlapping flange binding portions prevent the crushing of the sides'of the top and bottom deck members, and at the same time resist against damage from lateral or end shock loads.

'I'his construction conserves a substantial amount of material and thus produces an inexpensive pallet having a high load carrying capacity in relation to its lightness in weight.

In Fig. 4 is shown a fragmentary sectional view arcaico of a slightly modied form of pallet having integral recessed side members I Il, and sheet metal siat deck members II'I provided with a central groove or corrugation |24 to give greater strength.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a slightly different form in which the recessed integral side members 2 I8 support corrugated sheet metal deck members 225 having their edges turned under at the ends of the pallet as indicated at 222.

Figs. 'I and 8 show variations of corrugated sheet metal deck members, the deck members 325 being provided with deep corrugations 324 for sustaining heavy loads, and the deck members 425 being provided with relatively shallow Acorrugations for medium or lighter loads.

All of the various forms shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive are used with the integral metal side members I6, the only variations necessary in the side members being in dimensions in order to accommodate the rvarious thicknesses of deck members. It is understood that the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 8 are merely by way of example since many other variations in metal deck members can be used, as for instance, the decks may be made of flat sheet metal either solid or inslats, or of expanded metal or wire mesh or various bar and structural shapes. Also, the deck may consist of a sub-framework for supporting deck members of wood or other materials,

The embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is a combination steel and wood pallet in which the longitudinally extending recessed metal side members I6a-are substantially identical to side members I6 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The top and bottom deck members are shown as wooden slats 3i supported on the legs I8a of the side members and on the legs of the central channel I9a. Preferably the slats 3| are bolted to the legs I8a by bolts 33 as shown, so that the slats may be easily replaced. The slats 3i' at the ends of the pallet are preferably rabbeted to receive angular metal edge pieces 2'I, which are shown in Figs. 9 and III as being channels set into the edges of the slats so as to have their surfaces flush with the surfaces of the slats. Obviously these channel pieces 21 could be in the form of angles or the like if` desired.

The channels 2'I provide protection to the deck members against end shocks and the like, and prevent the formation of splinters along the outer edges of the end deck members. 'Ihe angular flange portions 20a and the overlapping binding portions 2| a of the side members serve to abut and overlap the extremities of the slats so that in handling the pallet construction shown in Fig. 9 no contact or wear is taken on the wooden slats and no exterior wooden edges are presented to become splintered by wear.

A further modification of the present improved pallet is shown in Fig. 11 and constitutes a reversible combinationsteel and wood pallet. In this embodiment, the longitudinally extending side members are exteriorly recessed integral metal channel members 28 having their legs 29 outwardly directed and provided with upturned and downturned angular flange portions 30 for abutting the side edges or extremities of the deck members. The deck members may be wooden slats 3i spaced apart longitudinally of thepallet as shown, or substantially abutting each other. The deck members are supported on the legs 29 of the side members 28, and also on the legs of a central longitudinally` extending channel 32. Preferably the slats are bolted to the legs 29 of the side members and to the legs of the central ters thereon. v'I'he angles 34 may be set into the deck members 3| as shown so that their surfaces are flush with the surfaces of the deck members.

Thus the construction, including the flanges 30 1 of the side members 28 and the end angles 34, provides a combination steel and wood pallet in which sharp edges and the danger of splinters is substantially eliminated.

The modified form of pallet construction shown in Figs. 13,'14 and 15 isa further modification of a combination steel and wood pallet. In this form the longitudinally extending exteriorly recessed integral side .members ,'28b have outwardly4 directed legs 29h and upturnedand downturned angular flange portions 30h for abutting the ex-` tremities of wooden slat deck members 3|. 'I'he deck members 3l ,are supported on the legs 29h of the side members 28h, and also on the legs of a central longitudinally extending channel 32h. Preferably the slats are bolted to the legs 23h and to the legs oi' the central channel 32h by bolts indicated at 33. y

The deck members or slats 3| at the ends of the pallet preferably have their outer corners convexly curved as shownat .34, and metal edge members 35 are provided at the ends of the pallet to fit the outer edges of slats 3|'. These edge members 35, are preferably angular in cross section, having curved corner portions 36 con-` adapted for easy handling andl for use with av sling chain where desired. Moreover each of the forms provide a pallet construction having vertically spaced top and bottom deck members adapted to receive the fork of a fork lift truck therebetween. 'I

Iclaim:

1. Pallet construction including longitudinally extending one-piece lside members, and top and bottom deck members extending transversely of and supported on said side members, said side members being channel shaped in cross section and having outwardly directed legs, said legs having integral angular flange portions with ex-l teriorly rounded corners and abutting the extremities of said top and bottom deck members. 2. Pallet construction including two laterally -spaced longitudinally extending recessed metal side members, a longitudinally extending channel member midway between said side members, top and bottom laterally extending deck members supported on said three longitudinally extending members, and said side members having integral angular upwardly and downwardly directed flange portions abutting the extremitiesv of 4thel top and bottom deck members. Y

3. Pallet construction including longitudinally extending side members, and top and bottom deck members extendingtransversely of and supported on said side members, saidv side members being l channel shaped in cross section and having` outwardly directed legs, said legs having integral angular flange portions with exteriorly'rounded corners extending vertically and then inwardly for binding the extremities of said top and bottom deck members.

4. Pallet construction including two laterally spaced longitudinally extending exteriorly recessed metal side members, a longitudinally extending channel midway between and spaced from said side members, top and bottom laterally extending deck members supported by said three longitudinally extending members, and said side members having integral inwardly bent top and bottom flange portions overlapping the extremigties ofthe top and bottom deck members, and the deck members being provided with inturned metal edge portions at the ends of the pallet and between the side members. t

5. yPallet construction including longitudinally extending transversely spaced side members, top and bottom deck members extending transversely of and supported on said side members, said side members being channel shapedV incross section and having outwardly directed legs, said legs having integral vertical flange portions abutting the extremities of said top and bottom deck members, and the deck members having inturned metal edge portions with curved corners at the ends oi' the pallet.

CARL L. CLARK. 

